Generous estate gifts fuel the future of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Robert Schostak remembers well the days when he
was a student at OU. At the time, he was juggling a lot — newly married,
working a day job with his family’s commercial real estate business,
and commuting to Rochester to take evening courses toward a degree.
“I had a lot on my plate,” recalls Schostak, CAS ’78, “but the
flexibility I had in attending Oakland University as a commuter student
really helped me realize my dreams. It was a tremendous resource that
I’ve never forgotten.”
Today, Schostak is the co-chairman and chief executive officer of
Schostak Brothers & Company, Inc. of Livonia, Mich. His family’s
Schostak Family Philanthropic Foundation recently made a $1 million
pledge to the new Oakland University William Beaumont School of
Medicine.
“My family believes strongly in giving back to the community,” Schostak
explains. “The new medical school is a logical and appropriate choice
for the donation, because it can contribute to the economic development
of all of Oakland County. And, as an alumnus of OU, it feels good to be
supporting such an important phase in the school’s development.”
Not only did the donation help get the new medical school off to a
positive start, the deferred gift is also unrestricted — allowing
Oakland University and Beaumont Hospital the freedom to support their
new school of medicine wherever the need is greatest.
“My family has great confidence in Dr. (Robert)
Folberg’s leadership and also in President (Gary) Russi, in where he
wants to take the university,” Schostak says. “We trust them both as
professionals to know how best to use the gift to bring the most value
to the medical school.”
Dr. Folberg, founding dean of the OUWB School of Medicine, acknowledged
the gift, saying, “The pledge will have a lasting impact on the
educational mission of our new school. We’re grateful to the Schostak
family for their support.”
The Schostak Family Foundation’s $50,000 pledge in 2007 helped OU
establish a Judaic studies minor in the College of Arts and Sciences,
with the aim of fostering better understanding, tolerance and a broader
knowledge base of the world for future students.
For the Schostaks, philanthropy is part of a shared family philosophy.
They have supported a variety of civic and charitable organizations
throughout metropolitan Detroit, including the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation, the New Detroit Science Center, the Detroit
Institute of Arts and Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern
Michigan.
The Schostak Family Philanthropic Foundation places a strong emphasis on
education, providing scholarships and other support for institutions
such as the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, the University of
Michigan, Oakland University and Wayne State University.
Schostak family pledge demonstrates confidence in OU medical education
Created by Donna McVay (mcvay2@oakland.edu) on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 Modified by Donna McVay (mcvay2@oakland.edu) on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 Article Start Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2011
